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'Gardens' honors 178 Suffolk 9/11 victims
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| | | Photo by Jennifer Choi (click for larger version) | |
September 11, 2009 | 08:02 AM
Suffolk County officials and residents gathered Thursday at the Armed Forces Plaza in Hauppauge for the dedication of Gardens of Remembrance, a memorial site honoring the 178 Suffolk residents who lost their lives on 9/11.
"This is a fitting tribute to the families of the 178 residents we lost on that horrific day," County Executive Steve Levy said. "It's a wonderfully serene and beautiful site at which we can reflect upon the lives that were taken from us."
Jim Smagala of Commack, whose brother Stan died on 9/11 serving as a firefighter, said having a memorial close to home is "really nice." Even though he is "not a big fan" of memorials, Smagala, also a firefighter who responded to the terrorist attacks, said he is "appreciative" of the county's efforts to honor the victims.
Philip Hayes Jr., who traveled from California to attend the dedication ceremony, said it's "important that people still recognize" those who lost their lives trying to save others. Hayes Jr. said his father, Philip Hayes of East Northport, was a retired firefighter who became a fire safety director at the World Trade Center after the bombing in 1993.
Firefighter Brian Stack of St. James was also at the memorial site honoring his father Lawrence Stack, who was killed on 9/11 after 34 years of service as a firefighter. Standing in front of the Gardens of Remembrance, Brian Stack said, "This says it all."
Levy, who was joined by county legislators who read aloud the names of the 178 victims, said the memorial is another effort to "strengthen our resolve and persevere as strong as we can as a nation."
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